Wire-reel



- (No Model.)

Jr L. HUDSON.

WIRE REEL.

. We 11 9 .w 9 I 00 1 M 2 I 2 L .L S p G qw m d 8 J u n e W ...U 9 a W P H 5 J L E l /1.. 0 2 5 l. I I 9 5 4 .nm N

UNITED STATES PATE T OFFICE.

JAMES L. HODSON, OF DENOVA, IOTVA.

WIRE-REEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 459,? 50, dated September 22, 1891.

Application filed April 11, 1891. Serial No. 388,630- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES L'. HODSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Denova, in the county of Henry and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Wire-Reel, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to devices for stretching and tightening wires in the act of building fences; and the object of the same is to effect certain improvements in machines of this character.

To this end the invention consists of the details of construction hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and as illustrated on the sheet of drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a general perspective view of this device. showing the same in the act of stretching a wire. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

I Referring to the said drawings, the letters l/V designate wheels mounted on an axle A, supporting a frame F, and the latter carries two uprights U, through which is passed a spindle S. The latter supports a wire-reel R, which is mounted thereon and rendered removable by means of a pin P, and this reel may be revolved by a handle H in order to wind or unwind the wire. Projecting forwardly from the frame F is a tongue T, which is suitably braced, and by this tongue the truck may be moved from place to place. Through the upper ends of the uprights is a rod R, and on this rod are pivotally mounted inclined braces 13. After the device has been moved to the proper point the tongue T is lowered so that its tip rests upon the ground, as seen in Fig. 1, and the braces are then run out, as best seen in Fig. 2. The end of the tongue and the extremities of the braces are rovided with clevises C, which may be staked to the ground to hold these parts in such positions. By this means the entire device is firmly set up ready to stretch the wire. Obviously the wire could be strung from post to post by merely securing one end of the wire to one post and then drawing the truck past the posts to which it is desired the wire shall be fastened. But having paid out the wire it becomes desirable to stretch it tightly before it is stapled to the posts, and this is accomplished in the following manner: L L are levers pivotally mounted upon the rod R and each having a chain 0, provided with a hook H at its free end. The wire, which is barbed fence-wire in the present instance and leads from the reel to the posts, is so diverted from a straight line that one of the hooks H may be engaged with it. The lever carrying this hook is then bent down, as is L in Fig. 1, and a short retaining-chain a", connected to one of the braces 13, is engaged over a hook h, projecting from this lever. The other lever L is then raised and its book carried forward so as to take another bite on the fence-wire, after which it (the lever) is depressed so as to further stretch the wire, and the other lever being detached from the chain 1" the latter is connected to the hook it of the lever L as that is in turn brought down. In this manner a very strong tension can be imparted to the fence-wire by alternately operating the levers L and L, and the bracesB and tongue T will prevent the device from moving while this tightening of the fence-wire is taking place.

WVhat is claimed as new is 1. The combination, with a truck, a pair of uprights rising therefrom, a spindle through said uprights, and a wire-holding reel upon one end of said spindle, of a rod through the uprights above the spindle, braces mounted on said rod and having clevises at their other ends, whereby they may be staked to the ground, two levers pivoted on said rod, each having a short chain with a hook at its free end, and each also havinga hook in its body, and a short chain secured to one of the braces and adapted to engage the hooks in the bodies of the levers, all as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.

2. The combination, with a truck, uprights rising therefrom, a spindle through said uprights, and a wire-holding reel upon one end of said spindle, of a rod through the uprights, braces mounted on said rod, two levers pivoted on said rod, each having a short chain IOO 

